Dressing Up!

On Halloween we dressed up at work.  It was a lot of fun!  I'm trying to look like a hippie.  Hope it worked.

Triniti

Sarah took this picture.  Doesn't she look like a model?  I think this picture looks professional!

Trin and Toby

Trin loves Grandpa and Grandma's cat Toby.  

Family Pics Dec. 2008

In December we kept Triniti for 5 days.  It's just like having a 5 year old at home again.  Seems like things never change.  Triniti can add lots of joy to our lives.  Having kids can be fun and sometimes stressful.  Right now Dion and Trin are watching home videos.  We just finished the DVD Prince Caspian, and earlier today Triniti and I played hopscotch on the back porch.  Good times!

Christmas 2008

Well we are still here in Tucson, but many pounds heavier.  Of course we can make lots of excuses for ourselves, the camera adds 30 pounds.   Shopping for Christmas was a disaster! Let's see, how many new years resolutions would I like to make?  Stopping bad habits, exercising, eating healthy, treating people the way God wants me to, spending more quality time together. . . 

I hesitate to make any promises.  Without God's help I don't think I will accomplish any of my goals.  I guess I need to pray for more faith in God and less faith in my own abilities to accomplish good things.

Thanksgiving

It is raining tonight and my thoughts turn toward Thanksgiving. The change of climate helps me to get into the holiday mood. When the weather is like this it's nice to stay inside, wrap up in a blanket and watch t.v. Warm and cozy! I have a lot to be thankful for! Family, friends, my church. God is good!

Psalm 91:9-16

If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

An anxious heart
weighs a man down,
but a kind word
cheers him up. Prov. 12:15

Be the change

that you want to see

in the world.


Mohandas Ghandhi

Triniti and her grandpa!

Triniti is doing better in school. The teacher gives her mom weekly notes about her behavior. She has more smiley faces, than sad faces on her notes lately!

When Life Gets Rough

For any woman going through menopause, I found out some things that might help: taking herbs such as black cohosh, eating soy and fish, and taking calcium to prevent bone loss.

For stress: exercise regularly, get out in the sunshine, do something relaxing, eat healthy foods, and find someone that you can talk to. Also, listen to the words of the apostle Paul,

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:6-7

Back To School

Well, I am back at work and have 16 students. Not bad! We had an open house last night. I was happy when one mom, who is a police officer, complimented my teaching style. She said her son likes my class. Yey! Not everyone hates school, especially when you make it fun.

I'm currently trying to find some fairly inexpensive resources to help me with the Reading Class at Alive. I may buy a phonics program called Zoophonics that uses a kinesthetic approach to help kids remember the sounds of the letters and the vowel combinations.

This week has been very stressful, because of my granddaughter having problems at school. Many people have been praying for her. More than before, I believe that prayer is VERY powerful. Much prayer has gone up for my family & for me. God has used those prayers to bring much healing! I am extremely thankful! We may never see rewards in this life for the time we spend in prayer, but God knows.

Does God care about those who have been wounded?

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises . . .

He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net . . .

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless . . .

You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. from Psalm 10

Is there a remedy for the wounded; those who feel discouraged & helpless?

Positive Thinking

My sister :)

My sister and her husband were handfasted in 2007.

Congratulations! She is a famous author and very successful at her job. I am very proud of her!

What's New

I might start a business tutoring chidren in reading. I wonder how it will go?

It is now April and I have 2 elementary age students that I am tutoring.
They seem to be making progress :)

Dion is so happy now!!!!!!!!!!!!! Trin came to visit us!

This is Triniti's new puppy. Dion thinks he is the cutest dog ever!

Wisdom

I was just reading about King Solomon. He was thankful that God had made him King and God appeared to him in a dream. God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." And Solomon asked for a discerning heart to govern his people. God was so pleased with him that he gave him much more than that. He gave him riches and honor. I love reading what Solomon wrote. God's gifts are awesome and he allows us to use them for His purposes.

Proverbs 1:1
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight . . .

Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

This might not seem relevant to us in our culture. We aren't farmers. But, the people that Solomon was writing to knew that if they gave to God first, before taking care of their own needs he would give back to them and all their needs would be met. I'm glad Solomon took the time to share his wisdom in writing so that we could benefit from it so many years later.

In many ways I use my own understanding instead of asking God how he wants me to accomplish something or how he wants me to spend my time. I want to be more aware of God's presence in my life on a daily basis, not just when I'm at church, or when I am reading my Bible.

I just want to have God's perspective on life, on work, on relationships, on the time that he's given me. That's my prayer today. 

Valentines Day

Valentines Day is my favorite holiday. I thought it would so romantic to get married on this day. So, 26 years ago my sweetheart and I were married as closely as we could at the time. We got married on Feb. 12. Fav songs from that era-Kenny Rogers singing "Lady". What else was popular in those days, oh yeah, Olivia Newton John and John Travolta sang a duet, "You're the one that I want". Dion is so cute, he likes romantic movies too! He loved "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "When Harry Met Sally". thogh he HATES musicals. That's why I take my kids to see them. We just saw the musical "Annie" and it was so cute! Alicia and I like to watch musicals when Dion isn't home. Of course, now that she is in colelge, has 2 jobs and a boyfriend, I don't know if we will watch many movies together. I think I am rambling on too much. Must get back to work, if anyone is reading this silly blog!

Give and you will recieve

Matthew 25:37-40

'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in,
or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers of mine, you did for me.'

There are many worthy causes we can give to. This is just one way to share with others less fortunate than us.

Check out these websites. The directors of this organization are from Tucson. Many of these children have lost their parents due to the AIDS epidemic. Maybe we can help.
http://zambiakids.org/?cat=6

http://www.childreneverywhere.org/support/index.html

Cheers!

Dion and I have been very busy this past year. My computer broke down at least 6 times in 2007. After having it sent to the shop for repairs and getting it back, now there is a problem with the sound. I can get sound from my ear bud headphones but not from the speakers. I am hopeful that soon this computer will work without any complications. It's hard to get much done without it. I constantly have to forgive HP for the way they built this computer!!!!!! How many times do I have to forgive HP, 70x7? Okay, I'll try to quit complaining. Christmas was fun. Dion got an awesome new toy for Christmas. And Dion got me the coolest gift! A ride in a hot air balloon. Alicia and I will be riding in the balloon when the weather warms up a bit. We spent New Years eve with a small group of friends. We are all looking forward to a great year. Cheers!